NEW DELHI: Legendary actor Shashi Kapoor who was suffering from kidney ailment for the past several years died in a Mumbai hospital on Monday. He was 79. 
Shashi Kapoor, son of illustrious film actor Prithviraj Kapoor and younger brother of actor-director Raj Kapoor, had acted in about 115 movies. He began acting in his father’s plays and began acting as a child artiste in movies like “Aag” and “Awaraa”. Growing to be a handsome young man, Shashi Kapoor is best known for essaying romantic lead roles with ease and flair where he was paired with almost all leading heroines of the day in Mumbai’s filmdom. 
He stood his ground in movies like “Deewar”, “Kabhie Kabhie”, “Namak Halal”, “Trishul” and “Kala Pathar” opposite Amitabh Bacchan who had by then emerged as a superstar and Amitabh-Shashi pair became a hit with everyone, winning instant approval of people. Shashi Kapoor is also known for his role in “Junoon”, “Chor Machaye Shor”, “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram”, “Fakira”, “Sharmilee” and “Heat and Dust”, a Merchant-Ivory film based on a novel of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.
His exposure to international cinema was noteworthy and so was his love for theatre where he met Jennifer Kendal whom he married later. He is survived by sons Kunal, Karan and daughter Sanjana who has kept his initiative of Prithvi Theatre alive. 
President Ram Nath Kovind remembered him for his contribution to meaningful cinema and theatre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several ministers and film personalities also recalled his contribution to the film world and theatre. 
His career in movies and theatre spanned nearly four decades. He made a rare appearance in the Capital in 2015 to receive the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award where his photograph with the leading heroines of his movies Shabana Azmi, Waheeda Rahman, Zeenat Aman, Rekha and Hema Malini went viral. In 2011, he was bestowed with the Padma Bhushan award.